11.05(11)(11)Exemption for indirect political activity. If any individual makes only those disbursements and incurs only those obligations which are exempted from reporting under s. 11.06 (2), or if any committee or group makes no contributions, and makes only those disbursements and incurs only those obligations which are exempted from reporting under s. 11.06 (2), then no registration requirement under this section applies to that individual, committee or group.

11.05(12)(a)(a) Except as authorized under sub. (13), a candidate shall comply with sub. (2g) no later than the time that he or she becomes a candidate as defined in s. 11.01. Except as authorized in sub. (13), no candidate or agent of a candidate may accept any contribution or contributions at any time when the candidate is not registered under this section.

11.05(12)(b)(b) Except as authorized under sub. (13), a committee, group or individual that becomes subject to a registration requirement under sub. (1) or (2), other than a candidate or agent of a candidate, shall comply with sub. (1) or (2) no later than the 5th business day commencing after receipt of the first contribution by the committee, group or individual exceeding the amount specified under sub. (1) or (2) or s. 11.23 (1), and before making any disbursement exceeding that amount. No committee supporting or opposing the election or nomination of a candidate at an election, other than an agent of a candidate, may accept any contribution or contributions exceeding $300, no individual supporting or opposing the election or nomination of a candidate at an election, other than a candidate or agent of a candidate, may accept any contribution or contributions exceeding $300, and no group or individual subject to registration under s. 11.23 may accept any contribution or contributions exceeding $2,500, in the aggregate during a calendar year at any time when the committee, group or individual is not registered under this section except within the initial 5-day period authorized by this paragraph.

11.05(13)(13)Bank account and postal box; exemption. An individual, committee or group does not violate this section by accepting a contribution and making a disbursement in the amount required to rent a postal box, or in the minimum amount required by a bank or trust company to open a checking account, prior to the time of registration, if the disbursement is properly reported on the first report submitted under s. 11.20 after the date that the individual, committee or group is registered, whenever a reporting requirement applies to the registrant.

11.055(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (3), each individual who, or committee, group or corporation that, is required to register with the board under s. 11.05 or 11.38 (1) shall annually pay a filing fee of $100 to the board.

11.055(2)(2) Except as provided in s. 11.19 (1), an individual who, or committee, group or corporation that, is subject to sub. (1) shall pay the fee specified in sub. (1) together with the continuing report filed under s. 11.20 (4) in January of each year. If an individual, committee, group or corporation registers under s. 11.05 or changes status so that sub. (1) becomes applicable to the individual, committee, group or corporation during a calendar year, the individual, committee, group or corporation shall pay the fee for that year with the filing of the individual's, committee's, group's or corporation's registration statement under s. 11.05 or at any time before the change in status becomes effective.

11.055(3)(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to a candidate or personal campaign committee. Subsection (1) does not apply to any registrant under s. 11.05 for any year during which the registrant does not make disbursements exceeding a total of $2,500.

11.06(1)(1)Contents of report. Except as provided in subs. (2), (3) and (3m) and ss. 11.05 (2r) and 11.19 (2), each registrant under s. 11.05 shall make full reports, upon a form prescribed by the board and signed by the appropriate individual under sub. (5), of all contributions received, contributions or disbursements made, and obligations incurred. Each report shall contain the following information, covering the period since the last date covered on the previous report, unless otherwise provided:

11.06(1)(a)(a) An itemized statement giving the date, full name and street address of each contributor who has made a contribution in excess of $20, or whose contribution if $20 or less aggregates more than $20 for the calendar year, together with the amount of the contribution and the cumulative total contributions made by that contributor for the calendar year.

11.06(1)(b)(b) The occupation and name and address of the principal place of employment, if any, of each individual contributor whose cumulative contributions for the calendar year are in excess of $100.

11.06(1)(c)(c) The name and address of each registrant from which a transfer of funds was received or to which a transfer of funds was made, together with the date and amount of such transfer, and the cumulative total for the calendar year.

11.06(1)(d)(d) An itemized statement of other income in excess of $20, including interest, returns on investments, rebates and refunds received.

11.06(1)(e)(e) An itemized statement of contributions over $20 from a single source donated to a charitable organization or to the common school fund, with the full name and mailing address of the donee.

11.06(1)(f)(f) An itemized statement of each loan of money made to the registrant for a political purpose in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $20, together with the full name and mailing address of the lender; a statement of whether the lender is a commercial lending institution; the date and amount of the loan; the full name and mailing address of each guarantor, if any; the original amount guaranteed by each guarantor; and the balance of the amount guaranteed by each guarantor at the end of the reporting period.

11.06(1)(g)(g) An itemized statement of every disbursement exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name and address of the person to whom the disbursement was made, and the date and specific purpose for which the disbursement was made.

11.06(1)(h)(h) An itemized statement of every obligation exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name of the person or business with whom the obligation was incurred, and the date and the specific purpose for which each such obligation was incurred.

11.06(1)(i)(i) A statement of totals during the reporting period of contributions received and disbursements made, including transfers made to and received from other registrants, other income, loans, and contributions donated as provided in par. (e).

11.06(1)(j)(j) In the case of a committee or individual filing an oath under sub. (7), a separate schedule showing for each disbursement which is made independently of a candidate, other than a contribution made to that candidate, the name of the candidate or candidates on whose behalf or in opposition to whom the disbursement is made, indicating whether the purpose is support or opposition.

11.06(1)(jm)(jm) A copy of any separate schedule prepared or received pursuant to an escrow agreement under s. 11.16 (5). A candidate or personal campaign committee receiving contributions under such an agreement and attaching a separate schedule under this paragraph may indicate the percentage of the total contributions received and disbursements made without itemization, except that amounts received from any contributor pursuant to the agreement who makes any separate contribution to the candidate or personal campaign committee during the calendar year of receipt as indicated in the schedule shall be aggregated and itemized if required under par. (a) or (b).

11.06(1)(k)(k) A statement of the balance of obligations incurred as of the end of the reporting period.

11.06(1)(L)(L) A statement of cumulative totals for the calendar year of contributions made, contributions received, and disbursements made, including transfers of funds made to or received from other registrants.

11.06(1)(m)(m) A statement of the cash balance on hand at the beginning and end of the reporting period.

11.06(1m)(1m)Surplus campaign materials. Notwithstanding sub. (1) (a) and (g), a registrant need not provide an itemized statement of a contribution or disbursement of surplus materials acquired in connection with a previous campaign of the registrant for or against the same candidate, candidates, party or referendum in connection with which the materials are utilized, if the materials were previously reported as a contribution or disbursement by that registrant.

11.06(2)(2)Disclosure of certain indirect disbursements. Notwithstanding sub. (1), if a disbursement is made or obligation incurred by an individual other than a candidate or by a committee or group which is not primarily organized for political purposes, and the disbursement does not constitute a contribution to any candidate or other individual, committee or group, the disbursement or obligation is required to be reported only if the purpose is to expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or the adoption or rejection of a referendum. The exemption provided by this subsection shall in no case be construed to apply to a political party, legislative campaign, personal campaign or support committee.

11.06(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, "nonresident registrant" means a registrant who or which does not maintain an office or street address within this state.

11.06(3)(b)(b) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a nonresident registrant shall report on a form prescribed by the board the applicable information under sub. (1) concerning:

11.06(3)(b)1.1. Contributions, including transfers and loans, and other income received from sources in this state.

11.06(3)(b)2.2. Disbursements made and obligations incurred with respect to an election for state or local office in this state.

11.06(3)(c)(c) If a nonresident registrant is registered for campaign finance reporting purposes with the federal elections commission or with the filing officer or agency of another state, the registrant shall indicate on the report the name and address of each filing officer or agency with which a copy of its campaign finance reports is filed.

11.06(3m)(a)(a) In this subsection, "federal candidate committee" means an authorized committee of a candidate for the U.S. senate or house of representatives from this state designated by the candidate under 2 USC 432 (e).

11.06(3m)(b)(b) As provided in s. 11.05 (1) and (2g), a federal candidate committee shall file a registration statement with the appropriate filing officer if required by s. 11.05 (1) or (2g).

11.06(3m)(c)(c) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a federal candidate committee need not file any reports with the appropriate filing officer under s. 11.20 for any period covered in a report filed with the federal election commission if the board receives a copy of that report.

11.06(3r)(a)(a) In this subsection, "federal account committee" means a committee of a state political party organization which makes contributions to candidates for national office and is registered with the federal election commission.

11.06(3r)(c)(c) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a federal account committee which makes contributions to a state political party committee need not file reports with the appropriate filing officer under s. 11.20 for any period covered in a report filed with the federal election commission if the board receives a copy of that report and the federal account committee makes no contributions to any other committee which or individual who is required to register under s. 11.05 (1), (2) or (2g).

11.06(3w)(a)(a) In this subsection, "national political party committee" means a national committee as defined in 2 USC 431 (14).

11.06(3w)(b)(b) As provided in s. 11.05 (1), a national political party committee shall file a registration statement with the appropriate filing officer if required by s. 11.05 (1).

11.06(3w)(c)(c) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a national political party committee need not file reports with the appropriate filing officer under s. 11.20 for any period covered in a report filed with the federal election commission.

11.06(4)(a)(a) A contribution is received by a candidate for purposes of this chapter when it is under the control of the candidate or campaign treasurer, or such person accepts the benefit thereof. A contribution is received by an individual, group or committee, other than a personal campaign committee, when it is under the control of the individual or the committee or group treasurer, or such person accepts the benefit thereof.

11.06(4)(b)(b) Unless it is returned or donated within 15 days of receipt, a contribution must be reported as received and accepted on the date received. This subsection applies notwithstanding the fact that the contribution is not deposited in the campaign depository account by the closing date for the reporting period as provided in s. 11.20 (8).

11.06(4)(c)(c) All contributions received by any person acting as an agent of a candidate or treasurer shall be reported by such person to the candidate or treasurer within 15 days of receipt. In the case of a contribution of money, the agent shall transmit the contribution to the candidate or treasurer within 15 days of receipt.

11.06(4)(d)(d) A contribution, disbursement or obligation made or incurred to or for the benefit of a candidate is reportable by the candidate or the candidate's personal campaign committee if it is made or incurred with the authorization, direction or control of or otherwise by prearrangement with the candidate or the candidate's agent.

11.06(4)(e)(e) Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (e), receipt of contributions by registrants under s. 11.05 (7) shall be treated as received in accordance with that subsection.

11.06(5)(5)Report must be complete. A registered individual or treasurer of a group or committee shall make a good faith effort to obtain all required information. The first report shall commence no later than the date that the first contribution is received and accepted or the first disbursement is made. Each report shall be filed with the appropriate filing officer on the dates designated in s. 11.20. The individual or the treasurer of the group or committee shall certify to the correctness of each report. In the case of a candidate, the candidate or treasurer shall certify to the correctness of each report. If a treasurer is unavailable, any person designated as a custodian under s. 11.05 (3) (e) may certify to the correctness of a report.

11.06(6)(6)Purpose of disbursements. An individual, group or committee which is registered under s. 11.05 may make disbursements for any lawful political purpose.

11.06(7)(a)(a) Every committee, other than a personal campaign committee, which and every individual, other than a candidate who desires to make disbursements during any calendar year, which are to be used to advocate the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate or candidates in any election shall before making any disbursement, except within the amount authorized under s. 11.05 (1) or (2), file with the registration statement under s. 11.05 a statement under oath affirming that the committee or individual does not act in cooperation or consultation with any candidate or agent or authorized committee of a candidate who is supported, that the committee or individual does not act in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any agent or authorized committee of a candidate who is supported, that the committee or individual does not act in cooperation or consultation with any candidate or agent or authorized committee of a candidate who benefits from a disbursement made in opposition to a candidate, and that the committee or individual does not act in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or agent or authorized committee of a candidate who benefits from a disbursement made in opposition to a candidate. A committee which or individual who acts independently of one or more candidates or agents or authorized committees of candidates and also in cooperation or upon consultation with, in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of one or more candidates or agents or authorized committees of candidates shall indicate in the oath the names of the candidate or candidates to which it applies.

11.06(7)(b)(b) A committee or individual required to file an oath under this subsection shall file the oath at the time of registration under s. 11.05 or the time the committee or individual becomes subject to this subsection, whichever is later. The committee or individual shall file an amendment to the oath whenever there is a change in the candidate or candidates to whom it applies. A committee or individual shall refile the oath for each calendar year in which the committee or individual proposes to make disbursements specified in this subsection, no later than January 31 of that calendar year.

11.06(7)(c)(c) Any individual who or committee which falsely makes an oath under par. (a), or any individual, committee or agent of an individual or committee who or which carries on any activities with intent to violate an oath under par. (a) is guilty of a violation of this chapter.

11.06(7m)(a)(a) If a committee which was registered under s. 11.05 as a political party committee or legislative campaign committee supporting candidates of a political party files an oath under sub. (7) affirming that it does not act in cooperation or consultation with any candidate who is nominated to appear on the party ballot of the party at a general or special election, that the committee does not act in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, such a candidate, that the committee does not act in cooperation or consultation with such a candidate or agent or authorized committee of such a candidate who benefits from a disbursement made in opposition to another candidate, and that the committee does not act in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, such a candidate or agent or authorized committee of such a candidate who benefits from a disbursement made in opposition to another candidate, the committee filing the oath may not make any contributions in support of any candidate of the party at the general or special election or in opposition to any such candidate's opponents exceeding the amounts specified in s. 11.26 (2), except as authorized in par. (c).

11.06(7m)(b)(b) If the committee has already made contributions in excess of the amounts specified in s. 11.26 (2) at the time it files an oath under sub. (7), each candidate to whom contributions are made shall promptly return a sufficient amount of contributions to bring the committee in compliance with this subsection and the committee may not make any additional contributions in violation of this subsection.

11.06(7m)(c)(c) A committee filing an oath under sub. (7) which desires to change its status to a political party committee or legislative campaign committee may do so as of December 31 of any even-numbered year. Section 11.26 does not apply to contributions received by such a committee prior to the date of the change. Such a committee may change its status at other times only by filing a termination statement under s. 11.19 (1) and reregistering as a newly organized committee under s. 11.05.

11.06(8)(8)Return of contributions. A registrant may return a contribution at any time, before or after acceptance. If a contribution is accepted contrary to law, the subsequent return does not constitute a defense to a violation.

11.06(9)(9)Short form. The board shall prescribe a simplified, short form for compliance with this section by a registrant who has not engaged in any financial transaction since the last date included on the registrant's preceding financial report.

11.06(10)(10)Referendum reporting separated. If a committee which operates as a political group has filed a single registration statement, any report of that committee which concerns activities being carried on as a political group under this chapter shall contain separate itemization of such activities, whenever itemization is required.

11.06(11)(a)(a) A conduit transferring a contribution of money shall, in writing, identify itself to the transferee as a conduit and report to the transferee of each contribution transferred by it the information about the original contributor required for reporting purposes under sub. (1) (a) and (b) at the time the contribution is transferred. The conduit shall include the information in its report under s. 11.12 (5) or 11.20 for the date on which the contribution is received and transferred.

11.06(11)(b)(b) Each filing officer shall place a copy of any report received under par. (a) in the file of the conduit and the file of the transferee.

11.06(11)(c)(c) A contribution of money received from a conduit, accompanied by the information required under par. (a), is considered to be a contribution from the original contributor.

11.06(11)(d)(d) A conduit shall include in each report under s. 11.12 (5) or 11.20 whether, during the reporting period, any contribution was redirected to a sponsor as permitted under s. 11.185.

11.06(12)(a)1.1. "Election period" means the period between December 1 and the date of the spring election, the period between May 1 and the day of the general election in any even-numbered year or the period between the first day for circulation of nomination papers and the day of a special election for any state office.

11.06(12)(a)2.2. "Initial recipient" means the individual who or committee which commissions a public opinion poll or voter survey.

11.06(12)(a)3.3. "Results" means computer output or a written or verbal analysis of polling or survey data.

11.06(12)(a)4.4. "Voter survey" includes the acquisition of information which identifies voter attitudes concerning candidates or issues.

11.06(12)(b)(b) If a candidate or committee receives a contribution consisting of the results of an opinion poll or voter survey during the first 15 days after the results are received by the initial recipient, or if a candidate or committee receives a contribution consisting of the results of an opinion poll or voter survey for which the initial recipient received the results during an election period, the contribution shall be valued for purposes of sub. (1) at the full share of the overall cost of the poll or survey which is allocable to each candidate, including a candidate for national office, receiving the results.

11.06(12)(c)(c) If the results are received 16 to 60 days following receipt by the initial recipient, and if the initial recipient did not receive the results during an election period, the contribution shall be valued at 50% of the amount allocated to an initial recipient of the same results.

11.06(12)(d)(d) If the results are received 61 to 180 days after receipt by the initial recipient, and if the initial recipient did not receive the results during an election period, the contribution shall be valued at 5% of the amount allocated to an initial recipient of the same results.

11.06(12)(e)(e) If the results are received more than 180 days after receipt by the initial recipient, and if the initial recipient did not receive the results during an election period, no amount need be allocated.

11.06(12)(f)(f) If the results of an opinion poll or voter survey are contributed to more than one recipient, the value of the poll or survey, as adjusted under pars. (c) to (e), shall be apportioned to each recipient receiving the results by one of the methods specified in this paragraph selected by the contributor. Each recipient shall report one of the following, in accordance with instructions received from the contributor:

11.06(12)(f)1.1. That share of the overall cost of the poll or survey which is allocable to the recipient, based upon the cost allocation formula of the polling or survey firm from which the results are purchased. Under this method the size of the sample, the population of the area in which the recipient conducts political activities, the number of computer column codes, the extent of computer tabulations, and the extent of written analysis and verbal consultation, if applicable, may be used to determine the shares.

11.06(12)(f)2.2. An amount computed by dividing the overall cost of the poll or survey equally among recipients receiving the results.

11.06(12)(f)3.3. A proportion of the overall cost of the poll or survey equal to the proportion that the number of question results received by the recipient bears to the total number of question results received by all recipients.

11.06(12)(g)(g) If the contributor makes a subsequent contribution of the results of an opinion poll or voter survey after initial apportionment of the value under par. (f), the contributor shall report to the recipient a value for the contribution determined in good faith, considering the value to other recipients, as adjusted under pars. (c) to (e). In such case, the total value of the contributor's aggregate contributions may exceed the original cost of the poll or survey.

11.06(12)(h)(h) A contributor of opinion poll or voter survey results shall maintain records sufficient to support the valuation of the contribution and shall inform the recipient of the value of the contribution.

2013-14 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2015 Wis. Act 54 and all Supreme Court Orders entered before July 7, 2015. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after July 7, 2015 are designated by NOTES. (Published 7-7-15)